What is Junk Journal Ephemera? Your Questions Answered!
Let me guess. You typed “What is junk journal ephemera?” online and found this article. Or maybe you were already reading my blogs and felt curious about what I have to say about ephemera.
Either way, I hope this blog post answers all of the burning questions you might have, such as:
- What is ephemera?
- What is junk journal ephemera?
- How do you pronounce ephemera? (Because yep, it’s a tricky one!)
- What are some good or useful ephemera ideas?
- Where can you find and how can you get ephemera for your journals?
Sound good? Let’s begin…
FAQs About Junk Journal Ephemera: Your Questions Answered!
What is ephemera?
The official definition of ephemera is: “Things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.”
Ephemera is usually made from paper; examples include things like postcards, ticket stubs, stamps, receipts, theatre programs, letters, brochures and more.
While ephemera wasn’t designed to be kept or treasured, you’ll likely want to use some paper ephemera items in scrapbooking, journaling, junk journaling, collaging and mixed media projects.
What is junk journal ephemera?
Junk journal ephemera is usually defined as: “Anything you add to your junk journal.”
This might include the paper ephemera examples mentioned above (particularly if they’re vintage).
But junk journal ephemera also includes things like tags, journal cards, pockets, tuck spots, belly bands and anything else you make or buy to glue or clip into your junk journal.
Later, I’ll show you examples of different types of ephemera you can add to your journals and junk journals.
How do you pronounce ephemera?
But first, you might be wondering how to pronounce ephemera. I certainly struggled with this one in the beginning!
Ephemera is pronounced “uh-feh-muh-ruh”. Here’s a video that might also help you pronounce it correctly.
What are some junk journal ephemera ideas?
If you’re after some junk journal ephemera ideas, look no further!
There are all kinds of things you can make and use in your journals, so I’ve divided them into the following categories:
- Handmade ephemera
- Vintage ephemera
- Printable ephemera
- Free ephemera
Handmade Junk Journal Ephemera
Handmade ephemera is anything you’ve made to go inside your journal, such as:
- Tags and journal cards
- Pockets, tuck spots and belly bands
- Flip-outs and fold-outs
- Notepads and mini notebooks
- Envelopes
You might also repurpose vintage and printable junk journal ephemera to make something completely different from the original.
Maybe you’ve used book pages, music sheets or maps to make pockets and journal cards. Or perhaps you’ve turned a printable envelope into a fancy flip-out pocket. I’d say these count as handmade junk journal ephemera.
Need some more ideas and inspiration? I’ve written lots of blog posts about junk journals, but you might find these two especially helpful when it comes to handmade ephemera:
Or, if you prefer watching videos, I have an entire playlist on YouTube dedicated to junk journal ephemera ideas. I hope you find something you like.
Vintage Junk Journal Ephemera
Junk journalers also often use vintage ephemera within their creations. I guess we can’t resist old crinkly paper and mini pieces of history, am I right?
Here are some ideas of vintage ephemera you might want to add to your journals:
- Postcards and greeting cards
- Receipts and letters
- Empty envelopes
- Ticket stubs
- Book pages and music sheets
- Maps and paper scraps
- Tea cards and cigarette cards
- Playing cards
Need a helping hand to build your stash of vintage ephemera? I sometimes have mystery bundles in my Etsy shop to help you get started. Why not favourite my shop so you can be notified the next time I have some for sale?
Printable Junk Journal Ephemera
You can also use printable ephemera in your journals. Most complete digital junk journal kits will come with sheets of ephemera for you to use, such as tags, pockets and scans of vintage ephemera.
Printable ephemera is handy when you just want to fill a pocket quickly and without too much bulk.
It’s also usually much cheaper than buying genuine vintage ephemera, which can be tricky to find for a reasonable price.
Some digital designers also provide free printable ephemera you can use in your journals. Subscribe to your favourite designers’ YouTube channels and join their Facebook groups to snag your freebies.
You can also use sites like The Graphics Fairy and Pixabay to find free printable ephemera. Be cautious of Pixabay if you sell your journals, though, as copyright permissions are sometimes a little questionable on Pixabay.
Free Junk Journal Ephemera
Speaking of free ephemera, one of the things that junk journalers love most about this hobby is just how many ideas and inspirations surround us – for free!
Head to an arcade and you might win some tickets. These can become clusters and other junk journal embellishments.
Visit a theatre or restaurant and you might walk away with a show program or receipt. With a little imagination, these can become tags and journal cards.
Open your mail and you might spot some junk mail or letters. These can become all sorts of junk journal ephemera – from pockets and tuck spots to tags and journal cards. Amazing, huh?!
Where can you find and how do you get junk journal ephemera?
As for where to find and how to get junk journal ephemera, here are some websites and shops I swear by when searching for my pieces:
- Etsy: For both genuine vintage and printable junk journal ephemera.
- eBay: For genuine vintage ephemera (and sometimes for a great price!)
- Charity shops and thrift stores: You might be lucky enough to find some old letters and postcards in one of these shops.
- Antique shops and markets: Note that you may pay more for vintage ephemera than if you buy it from other places because the sellers here are more likely to know the true value of these items.
Of course – as explained above – you can also collect free ephemera whenever you travel or go to restaurants, theatres, arcades and more.
And don’t forget to collect the junk journaler’s ultimate supply: junk mail and packaging!
You can use packaging and junk mail to make all kinds of interesting and unique junk journal ephemera. Take a look at this fun list to see what I mean.
I hope this blog post has answered your burning questions! Do you want to know anything else about using ephemera in your journals? Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll reply asap…
Read More About Junk Journals
- What Is A Junk Journal?
- Junk Journal Glossary For Beginners
- How To Start Junk Journaling: My Top Tips & Ideas For Beginners
- How To Make A Junk Journal From Scratch (Step-By-Step)
- FAQs About Junk Journaling: 20+ Tips You Need To Know
- The Intriguing History Of Junk Journals
- 35+ Types Of Junk Journals You Can Try Making
- What is Junk Journal Ephemera?
- Everything You Need To Know About Junk Journal Signatures
- What Is A Collage Masterboard & What Do You Do With It?
- Are Junk Journals Still Popular? 10 Reasons Why I Love Them
P.S. Did you enjoy reading about junk journal ephemera? Why not pin or bookmark this blog post now, so you can read it again later?
Junk Journal Toolkit
📦 What do I need to get started?
If you’ve got paper, glue, scissors and something to bind your pages with (like a needle, thread and an awl or pokey tool), you’re good to go! Check out my essentials vs. nice-to-have supply list for more info.
🤯 I’m overwhelmed by tutorials and ideas. Where should I start?
Start with my free Mini Junk Journal Masterclass. It walks you through the process step-by-step. Even though it focuses on a mini journal, the same tips apply to any size journal.
❓ I don’t understand the terminology. Can you help?
Absolutely! My A–Z Junk Journal Glossary breaks down all those confusing terms and acronyms. Jargon be gone!
🪡 How do you keep your binding neat?
I use my bookbinding cradle to line up my holes and avoid punching too far through the pages. Smaller holes give a neater and more secure binding, and I use this thin upholstery thread for a cleaner finish.
🧵 Do I need a sewing machine?
Not necessarily! A basic sewing machine is helpful for making fabric-covered journals, but strong fabric glue can work just as well. If you stick to paper-based journals or folios, you don’t need one at all. I like the sewn look and making fabric-based journals, so I personally use a simple machine (similar to this) that’s lasted me over 10 years – it’s a trusty part of my toolkit.
🖼️ What digital papers do you use?
I use a mix of my own designs and other favourites. You can see examples here. New to digitals? Check out my mega bundle for a big saving on some of my designs or sign up for my Mahalo Clubhouse membership to get brand new digitals sent to you every month.
📜 What’s the best paper for printing digitals?
I use this 100 GSM Presentation Paper for vibrant and high-quality prints.
🖨️ What printer do you recommend?
I love my Epson Ecotank. It’s affordable, reliable and the ink lasts ages. I used to spend £30 a month on ink – now I refill just once or twice a year for under £30. While I haven’t used it myself, some other crafters recommend the HP Instant Ink program.
🖇️ What glues do you use?
My go-tos are Collall All Purpose, Cosmic Shimmer and Beacon 3-in-1. Here’s how I use each one.
📖 What books are best for junk journaling?
I love using second-hand nature and botanical books. Here are some great titles to look for next time you’re thrifting.
